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Beech

Beech
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Genus: Fagus
Species
   Fagus crenata - Japanese white beech
   Fagus engleriana - Chinese beech
   Fagus grandifolia - American beech
   Fagus japonica - Japanese black beech
   Fagus mexicana - Mexican beech or haya
   Fagus orientalis - oriental beech
   Fagus sieboldii - beech
   Fagus sylvatica - European beech
Beeches are trees of the Genus Fagus, including about ten species in Europe, Asia, and North America. The leaves are entire and sparsely-toothed. The fruit is a small, sharply-angled nut, borne in pairs in spiny husks. The beech most commonly grown as an ornamental or shade tree is the European beech, Fagus sylvatica.

The southern beeches belong to a different but closely related genus, Nothofagus. They are found in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, New Caledonia and South America.